The ultimate margin of victory may have come as a bit of a shock but for Rory McIlroy's fellow competitors in the 111th US Open the 22-year-old Northern Irishman's eight-shot win came as no real surprise. As soon as the then 18-year-old left the amateur ranks in September 2007 it was obvious to his professional peers that in their midst was a special talent. And by 2009 the word was definitely out.

"Better than Tiger Woods at the same age," was former Open champion Mark O'Meara's verdict. The 2006 US Open champion, Geoff Ogilvy, was just as impressed. "Rory is by far the best young player I've ever played with," said the Australian. Ernie Els kept it short and sweet: "The next No1."

Still this was extraordinary stuff from a young man who, only two months ago, shot 80 in the last round of the Masters, a day that began with him holding a four-shot lead.

"He's phenomenal, the way he's bounced back from Augusta," said McIlroy's immediate predecessor as US Open champion, his close friend and fellow Northern Irishman, Graeme McDowell. "His maturity level for a 22-year-old is amazing. For any kids sitting watching at home, he plays golf the way it should be played, as far as his attitude and just the way he carries himself.

"He's going to be a great ambassador for the sport. Will he achieve what Tiger was doing around 2000 and win 14 major championships; can he be that good? He's got that potential."

The man who benefited most from McIlroy's Augusta collapse, South Africa's Charl Schwartzel, was almost as effusive. "It's pretty spectacular what he's done," said the 2011 Masters champion. "It looked like he was playing a different course."

Others were just as moved by an iconic performance, the like of which has not been seen since Woods won the 2000 US Open by 15 strokes. "It's not amazing that he's won a major but it's amazing how comfortable he was lapping the field," said the former Open and US PGA champion Padraig Harrington.

"And it's not as if he did so by holing lots of putts. Actually I've seen him miss a few. So it has been a very easy-going lapping of the field."

Phil Mickelson, five times a winner at the highest level of the game, was left just as breathless. "Rory played some really terrific golf," said the former Masters and US PGA champion, who played the first two rounds with him. "He hit the ball well and rolled it well on the greens, so it was inevitable he was going to make some birdies. It's pretty cool. I could tell that Rory has had this type of talent in him for some time now and to see him putting it together is pretty neat to see."

Then there were those who preferred, like McDowell, to take a longer-term view of just what this potentially seminal victory may mean for a sport in transition since the private and public humiliation of Woods.

"This will have a huge influence on the game," confirmed the world No1 Luke Donald, who later tweeted, 'thinking about moving to Northern Ireland!' "As I've said before, Rory has probably the most talent I've ever seen in a golfer. It's lovely to watch him play. He has such a fluid motion and he hits it far. He's got a great attitude on and off the golf course, and he has no fear.

"He's not quite dominating the game yet but a win like this will do wonders for his self-esteem.

"He'll be a tough force to reckon with from now on. He's going to be high on confidence and he's already got the game to beat anyone.

"He comes from a background where his parents gave up a lot for him to do what he's doing and I think he still knows where he came from and appreciates that. He's very good with the fans and it's very good for the game."

The last and perhaps most apposite words, however, go to one of the many Americans left in McIlroy's talented wake over the last four days.

"Rory has more talent in his pinkie than I have in my whole body," said Brandt Snedeker.